Part 25 Fire accident
Subhadra was in extreme wrath. She couldn't tolerate Arnav's dangerous level of concern for Khushi. She lost her hope of stopping the marriage. It seems Arnav will break all the hurdles she is planning to make.
Raizadas came out of the GH and were about to get into the car, Subhadra stopped them.
"Arvind, I'm going to the temple. Get me a cab." Subhadra said.
Arnav raised his brows.
"Dad, send her with Mohan in your car. You and mom come with me." Arnav suggested.
"Yeah... you can take my car. Mohan will take you." Arvind said.
"Maji... may I come with you to the temple?" Ratna asked her.
"No no... no... I will go. You carry on. Go and prepare dinner for them." She avoided Ratna.
Ratna nodded ok and left the place with Arvind and Arnav. And Subhadra went to the temple.
In the temple
Subhadra got down from the car and went to the temple. Sumesh was waiting for her there. She gestured to him to wait for a while. He nodded ok and waited until she finished worshiping.
She came and sat, leaning on the pillar. Sumesh was sitting on the other side of the pillar. They made sure that they were not getting noticed.
"Did you notice their house?" She asked him.
"Jee maji, when you told me to follow you, how would I miss it?"
"They are in Parvathy Nagar only."
"I will keep my eyes on them."
"NO... you no need to do that..."
"But why Maji?"
"I don't want them you be alive anymore." She said without any expression on her face.
"What do you mean Maji?" he asked shockingly.
"Yes, I have no choice. Arnav is crossing all the limits for the girl. He won't back off from this marriage. he is adamant to marry her. I don't think I can stop him by giving any excuses."
"Ok... I will arrange for it."
"Be careful. It will seem like an accident... Nobody should suspect it."
"Ok... you will get their death news tomorrow morning."
"I will give you ten lakhs after you finished work."
"Jee..." he said happily.
Subhadra disconnected the call. This time, she didn't give the money in advance because in case if Sumesh failed in the plan or gets caught by someone, she can't escape if she gives money because a middle-class man like Sumesh would answer to the police for the money.
"I'm warning you again, be careful. No mistake should happen."
"Jee Maji..." Sumesh left the place.
Subhadra sat there for a while and went off.
RM
Subhadra came home calling for Ratna. Ratna rushed out of the kitchen.
"Jee maji?"
"We will give shagun to Khushi tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah... tomorrow is a good day... Panditji told me."
"Jee Maji."
"Buy some latest design jewelry sets for Khushi," Subhadra said.
Ratna nodded ok getting dumbfounded. Is she really Subhadra Raizada? Ratna couldn't believe it.
"Ratna, get me some milk. I don't need anything for dinner. Milk is enough of me."
Ratna nodded ok and went to the kitchen and brought milk.
"Where is Arnav?"
"He went to the office to complete some important work."
"Oh..."
Subhadra drank the milk taking the time and went to her room.
Ratna thanked God for changing her mom-in-law's mind. She should have changed her mind, seeing Arnav's interest in this marriage. Poor Ratna thought so innocently.
Night
Subhadra couldn't sleep that night peacefully. She was worried that Sumesh should finish the job successfully. Sumesh will message her after finishing the work. So she waited for his message.
Parvathy Nagar
As per the plan, Sumesh's men came to Parvathy Nagar. There is no single movement in the area as it was midnight.
"Listen to me... no mistake will happen," Sumesh warned his men.
"You don't worry about it. We will finish it silently and leave silently. Nobody will know who did that." One of the men said.
Sumesh nodded yes. His men surrounded Khushi's house. They lit the fire sticks and threw it in the house from all the sides. It fell on a curtain. Within a few minutes, the fire spread all over the house. Sumesh and his men moved from there silently.
Subhadra's face lit, seeing Sumesh's message.
"FINISHED"
She spilled a devilish smile.
"The only hindrance of my reputation got burnt..." She lay down on the bed and slept peacefully.
The next morning
Ratna was selecting jewelry sets for Khushi. Subhadra smirked, seeing that. She came and sat before her.
"Ratna, see this... it will look good on Khushi's neck."
Ratna nodded yes and selected it.
That's when Arvind came downstairs all tensed.
"Mom..."
"What happened, Arvind?"
"Mom, I don't know how to say..." his eyes got, tear up.
Ratna became panicked, seeing his eyes.
"What happened, Arvindji?"
"Khushi and Garima..." he got stuck.
"Khushi and Garima...? What happened to them?" Ratna asked him fearfully.
"Their house met with a fire accident..." he said closing his eyes.
Ratna was thunderstruck. She was looking at him shockingly.
"What do you say, Arvind....? Hey, Devi Maiya... I will do a special pooja if they are fine..." Subhadra said looking up.
"No Maji... their house got burnt completely.... nothing is left. Everything became ashes..." Arvind said with terrible expression.
"No... I can't believe this..." Subhadra fell on the couch, losing her consciousness...correction, she pretended.
"Maji..." Ratna rushed to her and tapped her cheek softly.
As there was no movement on her face, she sprinkled water on her face. Subhadra opened her eyes and cried.
"Hey, Devi Ma... can't you take my life instead of Khushi's? Why did you take her with you?" She cried.
Ratna and Arvind also spilled tears.
"What will I say to Arnav? How he is going to bear the truth?" She closed her face with her palms.
That's when Ratna remembered that Arnav has not returned back from jogging yet. Ratna leaned on Arvind's shoulder and burst out.
They saw Arnav getting inside in his jogging suit. He stopped at the entrance, looking at their faces.
"Chotte..." Ratna rushed to him and hugged him.
"Mom... what happened?"
Ratna cupped his face.
"Chotte... please make yourself strong."
"Tell me the matter mom."
"Khushi..."
"Khushi?"
"Their house met with a fire accident, Chotte"
"Yeah, I know"
"Do you know? Yet, you are normal?"
"What to do mom? We can't be sitting, thinking about it right?"
"What do you say, Chotte...?" Ratna asked him confusingly.
"Their house became ashes. That's why I bought them here" he smiled, looking behind.
Khushi and Garima entered in. Ratna smiled with happy tears and hugged Khushi. Arvind rushed to them happily whereas Subhadra stood with an unnamed expression, looking at them as if they are ghosts.
To be continued...
The next part is available on Inkitt
Fire...backfire
Subhadra stood, sweating badly. She couldn't believe that she is seeing Khushi and Garima alive. She couldn't guess how could they escaped from the fire. Words were not coming from her mouth.
"Please, come in, Garimaji." Arvind greeted her.
Garima was looking at Subhadra sternly.